Dispensing container assembly



March 11, 1969 MUELLER 3,432,027

DISPENS ING CONTAINER AS SEMBLY Filed Oct. 21, 1966 Sheet of 2 /N VEN TOR 7/{zzeK/ez" /2 A TTORME rs United States Patent Olfice 3,432,027 Patented Mar. 11, 1969 615,554 U.S. Cl. 206-56 14 Claims Int. 'Cl. B6511 83/00; B28b 7/10; B29c 7/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container assembly for dispensing ice cream or the like including a unitary plastic container having upwardly extending guide means in the bottom surface thereof for guiding an independent push means into puncturing engagement with a frangible section at the upper end of the guide means. An inner base member is provided within the container, and includes an upwardly extending push means retaining boss in axial alignment with the guide means, so that the contents of the container can be discharged by inserting an independent push means in the guide means to rupture the frangible section and move the push means into engagement with the retaining boss on the inner base member.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior copending application Ser. No. 518,945, filed J an. 5. 1966, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a dispensing container assembly of the type in which the contents are pushed outwardly through an open top, and is particularly concerned with a push-up container adapted to keep the contents in a sanitary condition until they are completely consumed.

Although the container of this invention may be used for packaging a wide variety of products, it will be described with reference to its use in packaging frozen comestibles such as, for example, ice cream, sherbet, or sundaes, because of its particular advantages in this environment. Containers of the type with which this invention is concerned are usually used for holding small, individual servings of ice cream, but the structure hereinafter described may be used with larger containers, e.g., pint size containers.

Push-up containers heretofore available usually have had an apertured bottom wall and a flat disk lying on the bottom wall and covering the aperture. A push stick is inserted through the aperture of the bottom wall to engage the flat disk and push the contents out of the opposite end of the container. There is usually some clearance between the peripheral edge of the disk and the inner wall surface of the container. The package may be kept in a reasonably sanitary condition as long as it is kept frozen, but after the package is removed from the freezer, the contents are often melted, at least partially, before they are completely consumed. This condition is particularly true when the package is given to a young child. Whenever a portion of the contents melts, the liquid frequently seeps around the edge of the flat disk, particularly if the container is tapered.

In accordance with the present invention, the container, which may be made of plastic or any other suitable material, preferably has an imperforate bottom, and an open top closed by a removable cover member to provide a sanitary package. The cover may comprise a skirted member or may comprise a flat disk provided with a pull tab by means of which it may be removed from the container. The bottom has a frangible section but remains imperforate until the package is to be opened for the consumption of its contents. Then the frangible section is punctured by push means adapted to engage a separate inner base member that is placed in the container adjacent the irnperforate bottom before the container is filled with its contents. The push means, preferably in the form of a stick, is pushed axially of the container to dispense the contents. The cover member may be removed from the container manually, or may be pushed off the open end of the container by the contents of the container as it is pushed through the open end of the container by the push stick.

In one embodiment, the inner base member has a flexible peripheral edge portion in contact with the inner wall surface of the container to prevent any of the contents, even if they melt, from seeping or dripping between the inner base member and the bottom of the container. If the sidewall of the container is tapered so that the empty containers can be nested before they are filled, the angle is relatively small. In one embodiment, the peripheral edge portion of the inner base member opens up slightly as it is pushed toward the open end of the container to maintain the contact between the inner base member and the inner wall surface of the container. The engagement between the inner base member and the inner wall surface of the container prevents the contents of the container from seeping or dripping between the inner base member and the container even if the contents melt when the inner base member is pushed toward the open end of the container. In the case of plastic containers, it is not essential that a seal be provided between the base member and container throughout its travel when the product packed in the container is of such a nature as, for example, ice cream, that it separates cleanly from the inner wall surface of the container and moves as an entity. In fact, the separation of the product from the container and its movement as an entity is facilitated by the introduction of air through the container bottom after it has been punctured.

In another of the illustrated embodiments, the inner base member has a generally cylindrical peripheral skirt portion which fits within a correspondingly shaped lower portion of the container, usually in frictional engagement therewith. This fit of the inner base member within the cylindrical lower portion of the container positively positions the base member within the container when it is inserted therein. Not only does this positive positioning of the inner base member simplify the assembly process but it also maintains the base member in proper orientation during its initial movement relative to the con: tainer thereby facilitating dispensing of the product. This embodiment provides additional strength to overcome resistance of the product to initial movement of the base member.

Additionally, the skirted base member can provide an initial seal between it and the container. This is advantageous since it permits the use of a container having a perforate bottom while maintaining the initial sanitary condition of the package. This type of container, in which the frangible section is eliminated may be easier to use, particularly by small children, since it is no longer necessary to utilize a force sufiicient to puncture the bottom. Furthermore, the container can be constructed to reduce the amount of force required to separate the product from the inner surfaces of the container. lln this case, any seal between the base member and the container can be broken during upward movement of the base member to allow air flow through the container bottom and around the periphery of the base member.

The inner base member is provided with a hollow boss terminating in a relatively narrow upper end adapted to grip one end of the push stick to facilitate retention of the push stick in pushing engagement with the inner base member. In one of the illustrated embodiments the imperforate bottom of the container is also provided with a hollow boss shaped to guide the push stick into engagement with the frangible section thereof and then into engagement with the hollow boss of the inner base member. The entering end of the push stick may be dimensioned to wedge in the upper end of the hollow boss of the inner base member. With this design the space surrounding the boss will serve to retain any of the product that may melt and fiow past the base member into the bottom of the cointainer.

If desired, the frangible top in the hollow boss of the container bottom may be omitted, as long as the base member, in any of its disclosed embodiments, provides a seal between the area above the base member where the product is located and the open top in the container bottom boss. As explained above, omission of the frangible bottom renders the container easier to use, particularly for small children. Alternative, the hollow bosses of the container bottom and the inner base member may be omitted. In this embodiment, the inner base member would comprise a substantially flat disk having a cross section equal to the maximum cross section of the container. The inner base member may be flexible, or may have a flexible peripheral edge portion. In its lowermost position the peripheral edge portion. In its lowermost position the peripheral edge portion of the base member would be urged inwardly and provide a frictional engagement with the inner wall surface of the container to positively retain it in place therein. In another similar embodiment the container bottom could be provided with an aperture instead of a frangible section.

Suitable structure by means of which the abovementioned and other advantages of the invention are attained will be fully described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing several illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container assembly with a portion of the container broken away to show the interior, and a push stick about to be inserted through the bottom to engage a separate inner base member positioned in the container;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the structure of FIGURE 1, with the inner base member in the position occupied when approximately half the contents of the container have been consumed;

FIGURE 3 is a detail perspective view of the separate inner base member;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of the bottom of the container of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a view, similar to FIGURE 5, showing another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the structure of FIGURE 7 with the inner base member in position occupied when a portion of the contents has been dispensed;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the inner base member shown in FIGURES 7 and 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention.

In FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawings, a unitary container 11 comprises an imperforate bottom 12 and a side wall 13 integral with the bottom and having an annular lip 14 extending outwardly and downwardly to define an open top. After the container is filled, a cover mem- 'ber 15 is removably secured thereto in position to close the open top and form a sealed sanitary package. The side wall 13 may be cylindrical, but is preferably of frustoconical shape to permit the empty containers to be nested for shipment and storage before they are filled.

An inner base member 16 is placed into the container before it is filled. The member 16 comprises a flexible annular flange 17 and a sidewall 18 that extends upwardly from the inner edge of the flange and cooperates with a top wall 19 to define a hollow push means retaining boss 16'. The flange 17 and the top wall 19 are provided with radially disposed integral stiffening ribs 20 and 21, respectively. The ribs 20 are embossed downwardly so that in addition to their stiffening function, they serve to space the major portion of the lower surface of the flange 17 from the bottom of the container and thus facilitate the initial separation of the inner base member and the bottom of the container as the inner base member is pushed upwardly as hereinafter described. The stiffening ribs 20 extend outwardly from the inner edge of the annular flange 17 and terminate short of the outer edge of the flange so that they do not impair the flexibility of the peripheral edge portion of the flange.

The periphery of the annular flange 17 is at least equal to the peripheryof the container 11 adjacent its top and is therefore greater than the periphery of the container below its top if the container is of frustoconical shape. The peripheral edge portion of the flange 17 is curved upwardly, as indicated at 22, and when a product is introduced into the container the flange is urged into sealing engagement with the inner wall surface of the container. If the container is of frustoconical shape, the flexible peripheral edge portion of the flange is wide enough to maintain sealing engagement with the inner wall surface of the container as it is spread outwardly by the product therein as the inner base member is moved upwardly within the container by suitably positioned push means. If the container is made of plastic material and contains ice cream or other material that separates cleanly from the plastic so that it moves as an entity when it is pushed axially of the container, the inner base member will function efliciently to dispense all of the contents of the container even though its outer peripheral edges are not in sealing engagement with the inner wall surface of the container.

The hollow boss 16' in the base member 16 has a relatively narrow upper cylindrical portion 23 that terminates in a closed top 24 which defines a push means abutment surface that is adapted to be engaged by a push stick 25 when the contents in the container are to be pushed outwardly through the open top thereof. The cover member 15 may be removed manually before the contents are moved upwardly within the container, or may be pushed off the container by the contents as it is pushed upwardly. The upper end of the push stick 25 is preferably tapered, as indicated at 26, to facilitate its entry into the narrow upper portion 23 of the boss 16'. The upper portion 23 of the boss is dimensioned to receive the end 26 of the push stick and to grip it tightly so as to facilitate retention of the push stick when in pushing engagement with the inner base member.

The push stick 25 is guided into engagement with the hollow boss 16 of the inner base member by a converging wall 27 that extends upwardly from the container bottom 12, which wall 27 cooperates with a top wall 28 to form a hollow boss 29. The hollow boss 29 is shaped to receive the hollow boss 16' of the inner base member with its top wall 28 in register with the open bottom of the hollow extension 23.

The top wall 28 is slightly smaller in diameter than the open bottom of the extension 23 and has a weakened line 30 located slightly inwardly from the outer periphery thereof. The line 30 may be weakened in any suitable manner such as, for example, by making the outer edge portion of the top wall thinner than the rest of the container, or by scoring it. The weakened line 30 makes the top wall section of the boss 29 frangible so that it may be readily punctured by pressing the push stick 25 thereagainst. The push stick 25 is pressed against the top wall 28 to puncture it so that the end 26 of the push stick can be moved into engagement with the closed top 24 of the extension 23 of the hollow boss 16'.

During the filling operation the container 11 may be filled through its open top, and a removable cover 15 of any suitable construction provided to close the top of the container. Since the sidewall 13 and the bottom 12 are imperforate the package is completely closed, and the original sanitary condition of the package cannot be impaired without opening the package.

When the package is opened by taking off the cover, the product can be removed from the container by inserting a push means such as stick through the frangible top wall 28 of boss 29 and into the axially aligned extension 23 of base member 16. Upward movement of the base member will force the product out the open end of the container 11. The resistance to the upward movement of the base member by the contents within the container 11 forces the peripheral edge portion 22 of the flange 17 outwardly to maintain it in sealing contact with the sidewall of the container during its upward movement within the container. If a partially consumed package is left exposed to room temperature, reapplication of the cover 15 to the container will restore the sanitary condition of the contents and the sanitary condition will be maintained until the cover is again removed.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 5, a container 31 of frustoconical shape is provided with an aperture 32 in its bottom wall 33 in place of the frangible section disclosed in FIGURES 1-4. However, sanitary and leak-proof conditions are maintained by flexible inner base member 34 that is positioned within the container 31. The base member 34 has a flexible peripheral edge portion 35 that is at least equal to the periphery of the container adjacent its upper end. When the base member is in place in the bottom of the container, the edge portion 35 which is curved upwardly will be in contact with the inner surface of the sidewall 36 of the container to provide a liquid-proof seal between the inner base member and the sidewall of the container when product is placed therein. The periphery of the inner base member is large enough to maintain the sealing contact between the inner base member and the container as the base member is moved upwardly and the peripheral edge portion of the inner base member is spread outwardly by the resistance of the product to the upward movement of the inner base member within the container.

The difference between the embodiments of FIGURES 5 and 6 is in the inner base member. The inner base member 37 of the embodiment of FIGURE 6 has a hollow boss 38 terminating in a narrow upper end portion 39. The sidewall of the boss 38 converges upwardly to guide the push stick 25 into engagement with the narrow upper end portion 39 that is adapted to grip the push stick and hold it in pushing engagement with the inner base member. The peripheral edge portion 40 of the inner base member is curved upwardly in sealing contact with the inner wall surface of the container in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGURE 5.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 7 through 9 a unitary container 42 has a sidewall 44 having a generally cylindrical lower portion 46 terminating at its upper end in an annular lip 48 connected and integrally formed with a generally frustoconical upper portion 50. The bottom 52 of the container 42 is formed with an integral hollow boss 54 similar to that shown in FIGURE 4 having converging wall 56 extending upwardly from the container bottom '52, which wall 56 cooperates with a top wall 58 to form the hollow boss 54. The top wall 58 has a weakened line 60 located slightly inwardly from the outer periphery thereof which, as explained above, makes the top wall 58 frangible so that it may be readily punctured by push means 62 pressing thereagainst. Boss 54 provides means for guiding independent push means into puncturing engagement with the frangible top wall 58.

The inner base member 64 fits within the cylindrical lower portion 46 of the container 42 and has a top surface 66 in which there is formed an upward extending downwardly opening hollow push means retaining boss 68 having a tapered side 70 and a top 72. A cylindrical skirt 74 depends from the periphery of top surface 66, the lower edge 76 of which rests on the bottom 52 of the container 42, when positioned therewithin. The cylindrical skirt 74 is generally coextensive with the cylindrical lower portion 46 of the container sidewall 44 and is usually in frictional engagement therewith. When the inner base member 64 is in position, the boss 66 is axially aligned with the frangible top wall 58 of the boss 54 formed in the bottom 52 of the container 42.

The frictional fit of the inner base member 64 within the cylindrical lower portion 46 of the container sidewall 44 positively positions the innner base member 64 within the container when it is inserted therein. Not only does this simplify the assembly process but it also insures that the inner base member retains its proper orientation during its initial movement relative to the container thereby facilitating dispensing of the product. Furthermore, this embodiment provides additional strength for overcoming initial resistance of the product and may be constructed to provide a positive initial liquid-proof seal between the inner base member and the container.

If desirable, the boss 54a, FIGURE 10, maybe for-med with its converging wall 56a terminating in an open top 76 rather than a frangible top. This is possible, as explained above, when the inner base member provides a positive initial liquid-proof seal between it and the container.

In use the push means 62 is passed through the bottom 52 into engagement with inner base member 64 either by puncturing the frangible top 58 of boss 54 or passing through the open top 76 of boss 54a. Upward movement of base member 64 may, if desired, break any initial seal between it and the container 42, thereby allowing passage of air through the bottom of the container and around the outside of the base member. This venting of the container assists in the separation of the product from inner surfaces of the container so the product can be readily dispensed through the open end of the container.

I claim:

1. A flexible container assembly comprising a container having an imperforate bottom sidewall means having a lower generally cylindrical portion and an upper portion of generally frustoconical shape, and an open top, an inner base member entirely positioned within said container and movable relative to said container, said base member having a generally cylindrical sidewall generally coextens1ve with said bottom and positioned in sealing engagement with the cylindrical portion of said sidewall, said bottom having a frangible section adapted to be punctured by independent push means extending therethrough into engagement with said inner base member for moving said inner base member relative to said contamer, whereby' the entire content packed within said container may be dispensed through said open top.

2. An assembly as recited in claim 11 in which said bottom defines means for guiding push means into engagement with said inner base member. 3. An assembly as recited in claim 1 in which said inner base member has upwardly extending and downwardly opening boss means formed integrally therewith for receiving independent push means passing through said container bottom.

4. An assembly as recited in claim 3 in which said frangible section is axially aligned with said boss means.

5. The assembly as recited in claim 1 in which said inner base member has means for receiving independent push means extending through said container bottom.

6. An inner base member adapted for uSe in dispensing containers of the type in which the contents are pushed upwardly through an open top, said inner base member comprising a hollow boss including a generally cylindrically shaped abutment section having a closed upper end and an integral depending guide section having a small diameter portion merging with the lower end of the abutment section, and a large diameter portion therebelow, a continuous flexible annular flange extending laterally outwardly from the bottom of the large diameter portion of the guiding section of said hollow boss and presenting a generally planar upwardly facing content supporting surface of substantial area, and a generally cylindrical skirt extending downwardly from the peripheral edge of said flange.

7. In combination, a unitary plastic container adapted to contain a frozen comestible comprising a sidewall having an open top and an integral imperforate bottom, the end of said sidewall remote from said bottom and adja cent said open top having an inside dimension at least as large as the inside dimension of said sidewall adjacent said bottom, said bottom including an integral upwardly extending boss having a frangible top section and a sidewall tapered to guide independent push means into puncturing engagement with said frangible top section; an inner base member positioned entirely within said container, said inner base member having a top surface and a continuous peripheral surface, said peripheral surface being in contact with the inner surfaces of said container sidewall at least at the bottom of said container to provide a liquid proof seal therebetween, said base member having a boss extending upwardly from said top surface in axial alignment with said frangible topsection for receiving the independent push means passing through said container frangible section, said boss having a closed end defining a push means abutment surface, and independent push means adapted to extend through said frangible section into engagement with the abutment surface of the boss of said inner base member, said push means being operable to move said inner base member relative to said container, whereby the frozen comestible packed within said container may be dispensed through said open top.

8. A flexible container assembly comprising a unitary plastic container having an imperforate bottom provided with a frangible section, said bottom including integral upwardly extending means for guiding independent push means into puncturing engagement with said frangible section, sidewall means integral with said bottom and extending upwardly therefrom to provide an open top, the end of said sidewall means remote from said bottom and adjacent said open top having an inside dimension at least as large as the inside dimension of said sidewall means adjacent said bottom; and an inner base member entirely positioned within said container adjacent said bottom and movable relative to said container, said base member having an upwardly extending push means retaining boss in axial alignment with said frangible surface, said boss having a closed end defining a push means abutment surface whereby movement of said push means into said guiding means, through said frangible section, and into engagement with said abutment surface moves said base member away from said bottom to dispense the contents within said container through the open end of the container.

9. An assembly as recited in claim 8 in which the bottom guide means includes an upwardly extending boss and said frangible section is at the top of said boss, the sides of said boss being tapered for guiding the independent push means into engagement with said frangible section.

10. The assembly as recited in claim 8 in which at least a portion of said sidewall means extends upwardly and outwardly from said bottom, and the periphery of said inner base member is in contact with the inner surface of said sidewall means during at least a portion of its travel to provide a liquid-proof seal between the inner base member and container.

11. The assembly as recited in claim 8 in which the container sidewall means has a lower portion that is a generally cylindrical section, and the inner base member is generally circular in shape, is coextensive with said container bottom, and is provided with skirt means disposed in frictional engagement with said container sidewall cylindrical section.

12. The assembly as recited in claim 8 in which movement of said inner base member permits air flow through said container bottom and between said base member and said sidewall means.

13. The assembly as recited in claim 8 in which the periphery of said inner base member is in contact with the inner surface of said sidewall means to provide a liquid-proof seal therebetween.

14. The assembly as recited in claim 13 in which said bottom guide means includes boss means the top of which defines said frangible section, and movement of said inner base member relative to said container breaks said seal whereby air can flow through the punctured top of said boss and between said inner base member and the inner surface of said sidewall means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,432,027 March ll, 1969 Martin Mueller It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, lines 26 and 27, cancel "In its lowermost position the peripheral edge portion.". Column 6, line 62, the claim reference numeral "11" should read l Signed and sealed this 31st day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

